Unrest in Egypt

Follow Reuters' coverage as a wave of unrest grips Egypt

Ayman Nofal (C), a top Hamas armed commander, is greeted by Hamas supporters upon his arrival to his home in Nusairat in the Central Gaza strip February 5, 2011. A senior Hamas commander returned to the Gaza Strip on Saturday after breaking out of a Cairo jail during the political upheaval in Egypt, sources in the Palestinian Islamist movement said. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

発信者 Aviva West2/6/2011 1:14:02 AM

Anti-government protesters warm themselves around a fire as they as they keep watch near Tahrir Square in Cairo February 5, 2011. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El-Ghany

発信者 Aviva West2/6/2011 1:54:20 AM

Demonstrations entered their 13th day on Sunday in the capital Cairo, where protesters braved rainy weather for another night in Tahrir Square. Al Jazeera reported that the scene in Tahrir was relatively calm shortly before dawn in what has become a "tent city".

発信者 Aviva West2/6/2011 2:21:49 AM

Egyptian-Americans stand in the snow holding signs demanding Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak step down as they demonstrate in support of the Egyptian protesters, in Dearborn, Michigan February 5, 2011. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook

発信者 Aviva West2/6/2011 2:33:24 AM

It seems that the Egyptian middle classes are prepared to wait until September for Mubarak to step down and want an end to the protests and upheaval. Well, they would, it's affecting their livelihood.

発信者 DeAnna Grant2/6/2011 2:33:44 AM

In the first clear test of how long his opponents can keep up their momentum, President Mubarak's government is hoping to get people back to work on Sunday with the reopening of banks and businesses. www.reuters.com

An anti-government protester smiles next to an Egyptian flag at Tahrir Square in Cairo February 5, 2011. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El-Ghany

発信者 Aviva West2/6/2011 3:50:48 AM

In Nick Kristof's Sunday column for the New York Times, he argues that Americans are too worried about democracy going awry in Egypt. www.nytimes.com

発信者 Aviva West2/6/2011 4:04:38 AM

Safwat el-Sherif, Secretary-General of the ruling National Democratic Party, speaks in this May 9, 2010 file photo. The leadership of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party resigned on February 5, 2011, state TV said. The outgoing leaders include Sherif, 77, who has been powerful in the Egyptian establishment since the 1960s. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

発信者 Aviva West2/6/2011 4:33:37 AM

Gamal Mubarak, the head of the higher political committee of the National Democratic Party (NDP), attends the 29th death anniversary of late President Anwar al-Sadat in Cairo in this October 6, 2010 file photo. The leadership of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party resigned on February 5, 2011, including Gamal Mubarak, the son of President Hosni Mubarak. Without a place in the leadership, Gamal Mubarak will no longer qualify as the party's presidential candidate under the existing constitution. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

発信者 Aviva West2/6/2011 4:36:33 AM

Andrew Rawnsley from the Observer discusses how the West should embrace democracy in Egypt. bit.ly

発信者 Suzanne Urpecz2/6/2011 5:55:15 AM

A boy holds a flag as several dozen anti-Mubarak protesters gather to show support for demonstrations in Egypt, in front of the White House in Washington, February 5, 2011. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

発信者 Suzanne Urpecz2/6/2011 5:59:32 AM

Analysis of the U.S. and Egypt’s diplomatic relations by David E. Sanger from the New York Times. www.nytimes.com

発信者 Suzanne Urpecz2/6/2011 6:45:03 AM

Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney has lent his support to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Cheney said Mubarak is "a good man" and a strong friend of the United States, but said the Egyptian people will decide his fate as leader.

"He's been a good man, he's been a good friend and ally to the United States, and we need to remember that," Cheney said during a question-and-answer session at a tribute to former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

"In the end whatever comes next is going to be decided by the Egyptian people," he said. uk.reuters.com

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 7:31:34 AM

Egypt's banks are beginning to open their doors again after a week-long closure due to the protests. Reuters' Patrick Werr and Marwa Awad report steady streams of employees flowing into Cairo's financial district and customers queuing to access their accounts on Sunday. uk.reuters.com

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 8:03:24 AM

Will it be chaos at the banks? There are fears of panicked withdrawals and bankers are bracing for chaos in dealing rooms with foreign investors and businessmen fleeing the Egyptian pound.

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 8:05:26 AM

My colleague Patrick Werr writes: "Egypt's central bank said it was not setting an Egyptian pound reference rate for the dollar in the interbank market ahead of the market opening on Sunday.

"A banker had earlier said the bank had set a reference rate for the pound at 5.90 to the dollar, compared to 5.855 to the dollar before banks closed for one week because of political protests."

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 8:13:28 AM

@Eyousry tweets: "Muslim prayers and Sunday mass today at noon in #Tahrir sq., praying and honoring the memory of those who died for our freedom #jan25 #Egypt."

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 8:16:09 AM

The Egyptian pound opened at 5.892 to the U.S. dollar before weakening to around 5.9, according to central bank Deputy Governor Hisham Ramez. The pound last traded at 5.855 before banks closed for a week due to the protests.

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 8:26:15 AM

"It is impossible to overstate the angst, even hysteria, that Israelis are feeling about their neighborhood as they watch what is unfolding in the streets of Cairo," writes Aaron David Miller in the Washington Post. www.washingtonpost.com

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 9:09:58 AM

Michael Levy, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's special envoy to the Middle East, tells the BBC's Andrew Marr show that in his opinion Mubarak will certainly have to step down, the only question is when. Mubarak's son, Gamal, will not take over, he adds.

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 9:14:37 AM

The Independent's Robert Fisk writes that Mubarak is on the cusp of a final departure. "The old man is going. The resignation last night of the leadership of the ruling Egyptian National Democratic Party – including Hosni Mubarak's son Gamal – will not appease those who want to claw the President down. But they will get their blood. The whole vast edifice of power which the NDP represented in Egypt is now a mere shell, a propaganda poster with nothing behind it." www.independent.co.uk

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 9:22:13 AM

Egypt's Minister of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, tells the BBC's Andrew Marr that President Mubarak's state of mind is "fine". Mubarak wants to stay, and the majority of Egyptian people would like him to stay. Egypt needs a smooth transition of power and the only man who can do that is President Mubarak, he adds.

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 9:36:42 AM

The UK Foreign Secretary is also on this morning's Andrew Marr show (BBC). William Hague says Britain and other nations do not have the right to choose Egypt's President, but we are allowed to protest at mobile phone networks being blocked and physical abuse of protesters.

The process of change is what matters, not that it happens on a particular date, he adds.

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 9:43:50 AM

Hague: This is a time of opportunity for the Middle East. Leaders can show that there is irrevocable change taking place.

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 9:44:09 AM

Egyptians, living in Finland's capital Helsinki, showed their support to anti-government protesters past Saturday, by the Egyptian Embassy

発信者 Alena2/6/2011 10:25:03 AM

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 10:25:07 AM

Services to remember those who have died during the protests will be held at churches across Cairo later today. Meanwhile, those still at Tahrir Square are saying prayers for those who were killed.

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 10:38:06 AM

John Simpson, writing in the Daily Telegraph, says the crisis in Egypt has revolutionary parallels with Iran and China. www.telegraph.co.uk

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 10:40:09 AM

Egypt's Vice President Omar Suleiman has begun talks with opposition leaders, including the Muslim Brotherhood, state news reports.

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 10:42:51 AM

Reuters' Marwa Awad tells us that attendees of the meeting led by Egypt's Vice-President include members of secular opposition parties, independent legal experts and business tycoon Naguib Sawiris. A representative of opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei was also there.

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 10:50:35 AM

Some 341 bank branches, including 152 in Cairo, are opening across Egypt. There is talk on Twitter of long queues after the week-long closure. uk.reuters.com

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 11:10:15 AM

The U.S. is fighting mixed messages on Egypt, writes Reuters' Andrew Quinn.

"U.S. officials insist their message on the Egypt crisis has been unwavering: President Hosni Mubarak must allow political transition, and he must do it now.

"But Washington is having a much trickier time defining what that transition might look like, how long it will last and whom it might involve. All this has sown public doubt about what the real U.S. strategy is to deal with a crisis that threatens to upend decades of U.S. policy in the Middle East." uk.reuters.com

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 11:22:59 AM

A Bourse official informs us that Egypt's stock exchange will remain closed for an eighth day on Tuesday. The exchange reversed a decision taken last week to reopen tomorrow, and the new reopening date will be announced 48 hours beforehand.

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 11:33:48 AM

Much talk on Twitter of a wedding taking place in Tahrir Square, with a picture of the happy couple doing the rounds. Crowds are gathering once again and there are "more tents than ever' according to the BBC.

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 12:18:58 PM

@sharifkouddous tweets: "I'm in Tahrir. Still lively as ever. street art spells out "leave" in Arabic and "Go" in English. And great pic of Mubarak painted on ground."

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 12:22:17 PM

The problem we face in the US is that we only see the Middle East through on lense, one prism..that is Israel's security. This has been very costly for us and even for the Israelis, not to mention to the Arab people. We criticize the Arabs for the things that we do not want for them: Freedom, democracy, tolerance...Take a look at the coverage by US news of what transpired in Tunisia and Egypt..pretty shameful and counterproductive. Smplistic views of Islamists taking over and Mullah's running the show are pretty pathetic and are only geared to instilling fear and alienating the America public for the geniune shout for freedom among the youth of the Arab World. The upshot will be that the US will again lose whatever is left of its prestige in the Arab world, and Israel is not also helped either with this attitude and approach. Solution: We need a brave leadership in the US and in Europe..we need leaders who are willing to call it as they see it. We have a chance to make amends for our mistakes and to finally find a solution for the Palestinian Dilemma, which will go a long way to help and heal this region and the US relationship with the Arab world and the emerging world in general. But, do we have the leaders or leader that have such courage? I frankly doubt it.

発信者 rabi20112/6/2011 12:24:28 PM

A boy carries bread as he walks among opposition supporters in Tahrir Square in Cairo February 6, 2011. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 12:25:52 PM

Egypt's state television has broadcast footage of Vice President Omar Suleiman holding talks with opposition groups including the officially banned Muslim Brotherhood. The pictures show Suleiman chairing the meeting at government offices in central Cairo, with a portrait of President Mubarak hanging behind him.

発信者 Reuters_RossChainey2/6/2011 12:37:45 PM

An opposition supporter talks on the phone during prayers in Tahrir Square in Cairo February 6, 2011. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

発信者 Sharon Ho2/6/2011 1:19:02 PM

The BBC is reporting that carnival atmosphere is back on in Tahrir square with woman and children joining in, but there is also a renewed sense of determination. www.bbc.co.uk

発信者 Sharon Ho2/6/2011 1:24:20 PM

An opposition supporter plays the role of a victim involved in the recent rioting with pro-Mubarak demonstrators, in Tahrir Square in Cairo February 6, 2011. REUTERS/Steve Crisp

発信者 Sharon Ho2/6/2011 1:39:41 PM

I don't know what US news coverage rabi2011 has been watching, certainly not what I've seen. While I agree with much of what is said, I think it's only natural to be fearful of another Iran. I don't think Egypt is Iran and I hope I'm right.

発信者 hldboo2/6/2011 1:56:36 PM

Tahrir square, as this video shows, is still lively, and full of bustle. There's plenty of speculation on twitter that the fire has gone out in the protesters' bellies but one has to wonder what would happen should the government try to move the protests on from what has become the spiritual home of the revolution.

Tahrir square, as this video shows, is still lively, and full of bustle. There's plenty of speculation on twitter that the fire has gone out in the protesters' bellies but one has to wonder what would happen should the government try to move the protests on from what has become the spiritual home of the revolution. The flags, by the way, are being billowed upwards by air from the vents of the undeground Metro.